This document provides information for instructor trainers conducting an American Canoe Association (ACA) Instructor Certification Workshop in March 2012. It includes an overview of the ACA's history, programs, and instructor certification process. Instructor trainers are encouraged to use the presentation slides to convey information about the ACA and instructor requirements, and to suggest improvements to help support paddlesports education.

1. Welcome Instructor Trainers / ITEs:
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop Date: March, 2012
In a continuing effort to provide useful resources, this presentation was developed
to assist you in certain aspects of conducting an Instructor Certification
Workshop.
Feel free to use all or some of the slides (or add your own), and incorporate them
appropriately into your individual certification courses. If you have a different
method of appropriately conveying the following information, that is fine as well.
This powerpoint is a sample presentation and intended to be an additional resource
for ITs and ITEs.
If you have suggestions for improving this presentation, please let us know.
Thank you for your continued support of the ACA and paddlesports.
SEI Department

2. Instructor Certification Workshop
Date:
Instructor Trainer(s):
Education. Recreation. Stewardship. Competition

3. Who is the ACA?
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Founded in 1880, the American Canoe
Association (ACA) is a national, nonprofit 501
(c)(3) organization serving the broader
paddling public by providing EDUCATION
related to all aspects of paddling;
STEWARDSHIP support to help protect
paddling environments; and sanctioning of
programs and events to promote paddlesport
RECREATION and COMPETITION.

4. ACA History
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• 1880: Established on August 3rd by twenty-three
notable canoeists on Lake George, NY
• 1903: Purchased Sugar Island in Canada
• 1927: Incorporated in NY
• 1944: Women given the right to vote in ACA
• 1978: ACA Slalom & Wildwater Teams win
World Championships!
• 1980: Susan Chamberlin is the first woman to be
elected Commodore
• 1990’s: Clean Water Act enforcement (24 cases)
• 2004: Strategic Tenets of the ACA defined
• 2008: Founded the National Paddlesports Conference
• 2010: Rapid Media becomes official magazine partner

5. Education
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• National Paddlesports Instruction Program
• Safety Education & Instruction Council
• Learn to Paddle Initiative
• Youth Development Program
• Extensive Paddlesports Safety Education Information
• Courses: Skills, Assessments, Certifications

6. ACA Instructor Certification Program
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Established 1972
5500 certified Instructors – 250 certified Instructor Trainers
• Canoe (Touring & River)
• Kayak (River, Coastal, Surf, Sit-on-Top)
• Raft
• Safety & Rescue
• Adaptive Paddling
• Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
• Estimated 809,000 students taught annually

7. Stewardship
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Water Trails Database
• L.L.Bean Stewardship Grants
• Local, Regional & National Initiatives
• Founding Member - Outdoor Alliance
• Enhance water quality
• Support local waterway access projects

8. Recreation
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Supported 1,400 events in 2011
• Promote paddlesports events across
the nation
• Sanctioned over 200 races
• Provide insurance for club events and festivals
• Support the development of new initiatives for paddlesports
recreation opportunities

9. Competition
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• FreeStyle Canoeing
• Canoe Sailing
• Canoe Poling
• Open Canoe Slalom
• Collegiate Canoe & Kayak Championship Race Series
• Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver

10. What’s New at the ACA?
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
- New Website
- National Paddlesports Conference
- SUP Summit
- Journal of Paddlesports Education
- Online / Smartphone Reporting!
Additional info can be found online or in the latest SEI
Focus

11. ACA Instructor Certification
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
Paperwork & Procedures

12. Terminology
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• ACA – American Canoe Association
• SEI – Safety Education & Instruction Department
• SEIC – Safety Education & Instruction Council
• IDW – Instructor Development Workshop
• ICE – Instructor Candidate Exam
• ICW – Instructor Certification Workshop (IDW & ICE)
• U – Instructor Update
• END – Instructor Endorsement
• IT – Instructor Trainer
• ITE – Instructor Trainer Educator

13. Instructor Certification Requirements
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
To Become Certified:
– You must be at least 18 years old
– Be or become a full member of the ACA
– Acquire the ACA Instructor’s Manual
– Successfully complete an IDW & an ICE at the
appropriate level
Upon Certification:
– Register with the SEIC ($25)

14. Instructor Certification Requirements (con’t.)
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Instructor Candidates must be able to
demonstrate their proficiency at each level in:
– Technical knowledge
– Paddling ability
– Teaching ability
– Rescue ability
• Exhibit good judgment & group management
• Exhibit positive interpersonal skills

15. Attendance does not mean Certification
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• At the conclusion of an ICE, an Instructor Candidate can either:
– Pass (receive certification at a certain level)
– Be Continued (must address specific deficiencies prior to receiving
certification: an appropriate course of action will be developed with the
facilitating Instructor Trainer)
– Fail (must retake either the IDW or ICE, or both)
• An Instructor Candidate continued at one level can be awarded
a lower level of certification if earned. (Aka an Instructor Candidate
can earn a Level 1 certification in a Level 3 certification course)

16. Instructor Maintenance Requirements
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
Instructor Certification is valid for 4 years provided:
• Maintain annual ACA Membership & SEIC Registration
• Teach & properly report at least two classes with at least one
being at your highest level of certification
• Successfully complete an Instructor Update
• Instructors should obtain and maintain appropriate first aid,
CPR and rescue training
Please note: Certifications expire on 12/31 of the fourth full year
after your initial certification, then every four years thereafter.

17. Instructor Updates
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
Choose one of the following options every 4 years:
1. Complete a formal Instructor Update course
2. Co-teach and IDW or ICE with an IT or ITE
3. Co-teach a skills course, at your highest level of certification,
with an IT or ITE
4. Take an IDW or ICE in your discipline at your highest
certification level
5. Take an Endorsement (must have SEI pre-approval as on as
only certain endorsements qualify as an Update)

18. Paperwork
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Skills Course Registration Forms
- Calendar
- Insurance
• Skills Course Report Forms
- Skills Course Report Form
- EZ Skills Course Report Form
- Online & Smartphone Reporting!
- Insurance
($, Original Signed Waivers)

19. Additional Topics:
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• ACA Instructor Manual
• SEIC Policy Manual (revised version 9/16/09)
• Instructors can teach the body of knowledge contained within
the respective course outlines
• Course Types:
Skills, Assessments, Endorsements, Certifications
• www.americancanoe.org always has the up to date, currently
approved course outlines

20. Additional Topics continued:
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• If possible, report all courses taught, not just the required two
• Participation Cards for students
• Comprehensive Instructor Resources can be found at:
www.americancanoe.org
• Other: _____

21. What is my extra $25 SEIC Registration for?
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop

22. What is my extra $25 SEIC Registration for?
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Office Support
• National Paddlesports Instruction Program management
• Grant Projects
• Curriculum development
• Outreach at events & conferences nationwide
• Represent paddlers interests to various organizations
and regulatory entities
• Educational Resources
– Canoeing – Human Kinetics
– Kayaking – Human Kinetics
– Paddle Safe, Paddle Smart Curriculum
– Paddling 101 (Award Winning)
– Know Your Limits
– Coastal & River Kayaking Wall Charts
– Paddlesports Safety DVD’s
– Waterproof Paddlesports Placards
• For more information, visit www.americancanoe.org.

23. ACA Instructor Certification
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
Learning Theory

24. Characteristics of an Effective Instructor
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Knowledge of Paddlesport
• Enthusiastic
• Program Organization
• Positive Attitude
• Physical Setting
• Ability to Model Effective Technique
• Leadership Ability and Good Judgment
• Appropriate Equipment
• Ability to effectively convey knowledge to a range
of students

25. How to Teach a Skill
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
1. Sell It
• Prepare and Motivate
• Create in your students a receptive attitude and a desire to learn a skill

26. How to Teach a Skill
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
1. Sell It
• Prepare and Motivate
• Create in your students a receptive attitude and a desire to learn a skill
2. Show It
• Presentation, Demonstration
• Arrange in such a way that the students can easily follow

27. How to Teach a Skill
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
1. Sell It
• Prepare and Motivate
• Create in your students a receptive attitude and a desire to learn a skill
2. Show It
• Presentation, Demonstration
• Arrange in such a way that the students can easily follow
3. Do It
• Application, Practice
• Make use of group, partners, and individual methods of class
organization according to the type of skill, size of class, and types of
learners

28. How to Teach a Skill
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
1. Sell It
• Prepare and Motivate
• Create in your students a receptive attitude and a desire to learn a skill
2. Show It
• Presentation, Demonstration
• Arrange in such a way that the students can easily follow
3. Do It
• Application, Practice
• Make use of group, partners, and individual methods of class
organization according to the type of skill, size of class, and types of
learners
4. Use It
• Follow up, Adaptation
• The law of use and disuse states that a skill which is used
frequently becomes habit

29. Teaching Techniques
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Whole part Whole
• Demonstration / Modeling
• Lecture
• Reciprocal
• Role Playing / Scenarios
• Progression
• Guided Discovery
• Teachable Moment
• Others…

30. Factors that Affect Learning
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Physical Characteristics
• Age
• Motivation
• Fear
• Environmental Concerns
• Intellectual Development
• Personality
• Communication
• Others…

31. Different Learning Styles
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• The Thinker
• The Doer
• The Watcher
• The Feeler
• Combinations
• Others…

32. Lesson Plans / Outlines
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Why?
– They help you prepare and arrive prepared
– Demonstrates a level of professionalism
– Keeps you and the course focused on a
progression of events
– Allows you to look back to see what worked, what
did not, and what was actually covered

33. Lesson Plans / Outlines
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• How?
– Set out goals for a particular unit, section, or module
(remember “known to unknown”)
– Create an Outline
(Area you plan to use, equipment needs, key topics to cover)
– Include:
• Sell the topic
• Presentation
• Demonstration
• Practice
• Review

34. The 6 P’s
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Prior
• Proper
• Planning
• Prevents
• Poor
• Performance

35. ACA Instructor Certification
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
General Information
continued

36. Paddle Safe – Paddle Smart (PS2)
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
National research-based
educational curriculum
designed for any educator to
teach the joys and skills of
paddling a canoe and kayak
to youth.

37. Paddlesports Participation – Trends in the
Industry
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
• Paddlesport
participation is at it’s
highest levels in the
history of the sport.
• The paddlesport
community needs to
expand it’s entry level
education opportunities
for paddlers.

38. National Paddlesports Conference
Charleston, SC November 2 - 4, 2012
• SUP, Kayak, & Canoe Courses
• Race
• Instructor Certification Workshops
• Educational Sessions
• Family Paddling Trips
• Keynote Speaker
• Reel Paddling Film Festival
• Silent Auction
• ACA Annual Membership Meeting
• Fun!

39. Connect
The ACA & YOU!

40. Thoughtful Quote:
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
YOU are the decisive element in an ACA course. It is YOUR personal
approach that creates the climate. It is YOUR mood that makes the
weather.
As an ACA instructor YOU possess tremendous power to make a student’s
paddling experience miserable or joyous. YOU can be a tool of torture or an
instrument of inspiration. You can humiliate, humor, hurt or heal. In all
situations it is YOUR response to student failure and success that determine
whether or not a student leaves YOUR course a safer, better paddler,
happier, more committed to the sport or depressed, angry and likely to give
up paddling.
YOU have great power. Use it wisely.
Adapted by Mark Molina from Kids Don’t Care What your Know Until They Know
That You Care by Dr. Hiam Ghott

41. Personal Contact Information
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
Insert Your Personal Contact
Information Here:

42. Pertinent Regional Information
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop
Insert Regional Information Here:
For example, area clubs and other organizations contact
information

43. Contact Information
The ACA & YOU!
ACA
Canoe • Kayak • SUP • Raft • Rescue
108 Hanover St.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-907-4460
888-229-3792 [fax]
aca@americancanoe.org
www.americancanoe.org

44. Blank Slide
ACA Instructor Certification Workshop